U.S. Open: Golf traffic par for course - so far

But larger crowds expected around Olympic Club as U.S. Open begins

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, June 14, 2012

Deon Mark, right, security, points out the direction for the people who got back from the U.S. Open to The Candlestick Park back to their parking area on June 13, 2012, San Francisco, Calif.

Deon Mark, right, security, points out the direction for the people who got back from the U.S. Open to The Candlestick Park back to their parking area on June 13, 2012, San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Yue Wu, The Chronicle

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The people get their security check before getting on the shuttle bus for U.S. Open at The Candlestick Park on June 13, 2012, San Francisco, Calif.

The people get their security check before getting on the shuttle bus for U.S. Open at The Candlestick Park on June 13, 2012, San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Yue Wu, The Chronicle

Image 3 of 3

Erin Rohde, right, and Jim Rohde look for their car in The Candlestick Park after watched U.S. Open on June 13, 2012, San Francisco, Calif.

Erin Rohde, right, and Jim Rohde look for their car in The Candlestick Park after watched U.S. Open on June 13, 2012, San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Yue Wu, The Chronicle

U.S. Open: Golf traffic par for course - so far

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During the practice sessions for the U.S. Open, the elaborate transportation plan seems to have rolled as smoothly as a putt on a well-manicured green. But the biggest crowds, and challenges, still lie ahead.

Golf fans have heeded warnings not to troll the neighborhoods around the Olympic Club in search of nearby parking, and are relying on shuttles from Colma BART and Candlestick Park. Even the VIPs are being hauled in from lots at Stonestown and San Francisco State University. Traffic has been sluggish during the peak of the evening commute, but gridlock hasn't besieged Westlake, and neighbors and fans seem to have few complaints.

"It's working," said San Francisco police Officer Ana Morales at the Open's law enforcement command center. "It was very clearly noted that there's no place to park at the course, and people listened. They're taking the shuttles. The parking at Candlestick filled (Tuesday). So far, everything is going well."

But just as Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were practice days for the world's top golfers, they were also a dress rehearsal for the next four days when the championship begins and larger crowds - up to 33,500 daily - are expected to descend on the Olympic Club and stay all day.

"Each day will probably get worse," Morales said.

Traffic has slowed to a crawl in the evenings along John Daly Boulevard because of the closure of northbound Highway 1, which pushes more commuters onto the always busy thoroughfare along with some U.S. Open traffic. Most shuttles, however, are avoiding John Daly.

"The media have been reporting that streets are closed and you can't get around," he said. "But almost all of the streets are open and there's no traffic problems at all."

During the Open, Daly City police are controlling access to Westlake adjoining the course. San Francisco police are doing the same on John Muir Drive, which is closed to all traffic but residents and shuttle buses.

Olympic Club neighbors said the event is only a minor inconvenience.

"Other than a little more traffic and the police presence, it's same-old, same-old," said Art Collado, 43. "It seems like there are a few more cars parked here, but you can find a space."

Some fans did park in the more distant neighborhoods. Luis Banchero of Palo Alto and a friend found a spot about a mile away at about 9 a.m.

"We figured if we went far enough away we'd find something," he said. "We lucked into a space."

Most of the fans, however, took the shuttles, which they said were efficient and fairly fast. At the tail end of the morning commute, the circuitous bus ride down Highway 101 to Interstate 380 to Interstate 280 to Highway 1 to Skyline Boulevard took just 19 minutes. Including the drive from downtown San Francisco, parking the car, clearing security before boarding the bus, the ride and the walk to the front gate took 56 minutes.

Nancy White of Los Gatos said the need to drive to Candlestick for a crosstown bus ride wasn't much of a hassle.

"It was pretty clear what we needed to do and that there was no real alternative," she said.

Fans who took to shuttle from the Colma BART Station also described it as a seamless journey.

But the easiest trip may have been by bike. San Franciscans Kip Clifton, 32, and Megan Murphy, 29, took a practice trip to the U.S. Open, which they'll attend Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They rode - downhill - from the Daly City BART Station to Lake Merced, across the bike and pedestrian bridge and checked out the location of the bike racks, a short walk from the John Muir Drive entrance.

"It's very easy," Clifton said. "As with most things in San Francisco, we bike to them. It's really the easiest way to go."

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Getting to the U.S. Open

-- Drivers should park at Candlestick Park and catch free buses.

-- BART riders should take exit at the Colma Station and catch free buses.

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